Mt. SAC Officials 'Disappointed' To Lose Olympic Trials

Eugene Will Bid For Fourth Trials In A Row Despite Its Own Stadium Construction Concerns

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

After winning the vote in June to become the first venue to host the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Southern California since the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1984, officials at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut were informed Monday by USATF that the bidding process would be reopened to select an alternate venue to be chosen as the site for the 2020 Trials.

According to a USATF press release Tuesday, “The USATF Board of Directors unanimously authorized the move amid continuing litigation surrounding construction of a new Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) in Walnut, California, and the resulting delays on planning for a successful 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.”

The release added that the USATF Board of Directors, “will look to re-award the Olympic Trials no later than this June.”

An attempt to seek more clarification Tuesday from USATF Chief Marketing Officer Jill Geer regarding that timetable was met with the following response: “Our release today stands as our statement on the matter and the reasons behind the action. Please note the timing of awarding a new location in the final sentence of the release.”

Despite the decision by USATF and the ongoing litigation regarding the completion of the stadium project, Mt. SAC President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. William Scroggins is committed to making sure the new facility is finalized next year.

“While we accept that the terms of the agreement give USATF the authority to withdraw from this commitment, we remain confident in our ability to deliver a completed stadium on time,” Scroggins said. “Furthermore, our Local Organizing Committee is ready to execute our plans to host the 2020 event should USATF reconsider their decision.

“We look to continue our established positive relationship with USATF and hope to continue to work with them on areas of technical assistance relating to the completion of our stadium.”

POTENTIAL PROBLEMS IN MT. SAC BID REVEALED LAST FALL

The USATF Board of Directors voted by an 11-2 margin to support Mt. SAC’s proposal, which included a $62 million renovation of Hilmer Lodge Stadium. The college last hosted the women’s Olympic Trials in 1968.

Following a recent trip to Southern California by USATF representatives to attend the latest in a series of litigations involving Mt. SAC and the United Walnut Taxpayers (UWT), where Judge Holly Kendig denied a request by UWT to stop the flow of money for construction and set a Jan. 14, 2019 date for a civil trial, the USATF Board of Directors decided they weren’t going to wait any longer before moving forward in the process.

“I am disappointed with the decision announced today by USATF,” said event manager Doug Todd, the Mt. SAC Director of Cross Country and Track and Field.

“While they have every right to make the decision that they did, I certainly don’t have to agree with it. This was not a joint decision and I was not consulted or brought into any discussions about this possibility.

“I was told that the decision was made in concert with USATF Olympic Trials partners and sponsors who expressed ‘concern’ that Mt. SAC would not be ready.”

Although several lawsuits by UWT and attempted stop work orders have stalled construction, the outcome of the January civil trial, according to Todd, will, in no way affect, Mt. SAC having the necessary time and money to complete the stadium project as scheduled.

VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DOUG TODD FROM AUGUST 2017

“If we ever felt that we could not deliver on our promise of a new and completed stadium, our friends and partners at USATF would have been the first to know,” Todd said. “Our stadium will be completed on time, our LOC is ready and has been very proactive in their preparations. Sadly, none of that matters now, as the decision appears to be final.

“We will rebound from this, but there are certainly losses at the college. We have an entire team that has dedicated thousands of hours to this endeavor. We have contracts that have already been signed. We have already made two payments totaling more than $292,000 to USATF. Most importantly, the entire Greater Los Angeles region will lose the economic impact of at least $37 million, which is what was generated in 2016.”

Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., has already been rumored as a possible alternate venue, despite the construction project that is scheduled to begin following the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, scheduled for June 6-9.

Hayward Field, which is the host site for the 2021 IAAF World Outdoor Championships, has been the venue for the past three Olympic Trials.

“We’re very excited about the possibility of welcoming America’s best track and field athletes to the Eugene-Springfield community, to a beautiful new Hayward Field in 2020 as they pursue their Olympic dreams,” TrackTown USA CEO Michael Reilly told Ken Goe of The Oregonian.

Todd said he would attend the 2020 Olympic Trials, regardless of where they land.

But he couldn’t help but reflect on those who contributed to the decision being made by USATF and those who would continue to be affected in the future without the presence of the Olympic Trials in Southern California for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.

“I would only say now that my previous comments to (the UWT and Walnut City Council) both in public and privately turned out to be all too true,” Todd said. “Of course I’m disappointed. But more so for the people who have already been marshaled to assist and volunteer. They have been working hard and are disappointed.

“I’m also disappointed for Los Angeles market in general. There are thousands of track and field fans in the area who are never going to make the trip to some of the more remote locations where the trials have been held. This would have been a golden opportunity to bring in and develop new fans and highlight the world’s best track and field team in the L.A. market. We also felt that it would have been a very nice preview or warm up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.”